** Reply to note from Jerry Prather  Thu, 08
Apr 2004 08:53:01 -0500   
(EST) 
   
> True. And I'd like to point out that the proverbial $600
hammers/toilet seats have become 
> urban legends. But in fact there is a true story which illustrates how
the bureaucratic 
> processes can cause this kind of craziness. 
 
When I was in the military in Germany, I was chastized during an IG
inspection because I had   
not submitted any recommendations for changes to the Technical Manuals.
Shortly thereafter, I   
noticed an oddity I thought worthy of reporting... there was a plastic knob
on one of our radio   
sets that cost the Army $35 each, a simple flanged knob numbered from 0 to
9 on the flange. The   
exact same knob was used on a field stove (the EXACT same knob, brass
insert, setscrew,   
everything). This one cost the Army $1.75 each. I suggested they send out a
bulletin changing   
the FSN of the expensive one to the FSN of the cheap one.  
 
A couple of months later, I got a reply saying the Army had contracted to
pay the respective   
prices, and there was nothing that could be done about it. This confused me
somewhat, since I   
already knew that. I fired back a reply mentioning that, given those
circumstances, there were   
two options. a) follow my original suggestion or b) don't buy any more of
the expensive ones   
and buy the requisite number of the cheaper ones to fill the combined
demand for both pieces,   
then simply supply the same part under both FSNs. It was explained to me
that the prices were   
firm only IF each part was actually purchased, but there was no requirement
that the Army buy   
ANY of either part.  
 
It all seemed logical to me, but apparently hadn't (and may not have until
this day) occurred   
to Procurement.  
 
 





 
Yahoo! Groups Links

 To visit your group on the web, go to:
     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/os2hardware/

 To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
     os2hardware-unsubscribe{at}yahoogroups.com

 Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
     http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
 


---